Seattle: A Few Years Still Felt Like a Vacation

This well planned and layed-out this zoo, situated in north Seattle, is divided into different areas of the world. Due to Seattle's acessability to Asia, there are many animals from this area of the world that you will not see in most American zoos, including, red pandas, Komodo dragons, sun bears, tapirs, and snow leopards. Each area and their trails felt secluded. While walking along the paths one just happens along an exhibit. The zoo offers many activites—for kids, there is a butterfly program, raptor shows, and bird feeding at Willawong station. We all know that food is expensive at zoos, however, there are picnic areas inside the zoo. I reccommend eating just outside the gates, there is a large park with many pavillions, picnic tables, and black bunnies running rampant.

Situated just a half block north of Pike's Place Market in Post Alley, this lively bar and restaurant was a favorite of mine for a fun hangout. No dancing, this is more of a "loud conversation and listening to live Irish music" kind of place. The drinks aren't cheap, but they just aren't in Seattle. Get there before 8pm if you want to sit down. Bars close at 2am. Rustic tables, high and low, and Irish mementos all over the wall create an authentic atmosphere. They have their own microbrews here, as do many restaurants in Seattle. As for food, they offer a pretty traditional selection of Irish fare. I recommend the Irish Stew, which is also on the happy-hour menu. A lively, yet cosy pub that offers entertainment and a great social experience.

If you are visiting Seattle, Pike's Place Market is a MUST SEE attraction. Located downtown, north of Pioneer Square, it’s just off of the water. Besides all of the fresh vegetables, fresh fish, fresh fruit, fresh flowers, spices, unique artisan crafts, and restaurants on the upper level, Pike’s Place offers many other stores on the floors beneath, magic, music and menagerie. One can get everything they need here to cook their own gourmet meal, decorate, and prep for a romantic atmosphere.

Home of the Throwing fish, the major fresh fish stand puts on a show for hoards of people every minute of every day, five pound pacific salmons fly across the counter; it’s a must admire even if your not buying any fish.

Flowers are, besides everything else, one of my favorite purchases. Massive bouquets of flowers are relatively cheap and arrangements come in all different varieties, from simple to extreme and complicated.

Across the street from the Market building, lie many other unique and worthwhile stands, restaurants, and curios. Grab a macchiato at the very first Starbucks, a fresh glass of lemonade, a 4 inch diameter pumpkin cookie, spiced balsamic vinegar, and a hotdog with cream cheese. Make a day of this experience. If you’re not using public transportation, park behind the market on Western Avenue and use the many elevators and stairs to get up to the top. Beware, the market starts to shut down at 5pm, so go early… 9ish or so, to spend the day.

Locate about a half an hour north of Seattle, Chateau Ste. Michelle is a must see for wine drinkers. Washington State is home to a wide variety of grapes and wineries. Many popular varietals include: Rieslings, Chardonnays, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Chateau Ste Michelle offers tours from 10:30am to 4:30pm daily every half hour. The tour and basic tasting is free, but you can upgrade for $5 or $8. I recommend at least the $5 upgrade, there are more wines to choose from. The winery shop sells wine paraphernalia, and their vintages, at about market cost. If the wine is rare, or you just want to buy something there, go for it, otherwise, most are available outside, in the grocery stores and wine shops for less. I was disappointed to learn that they do not grow their own grapes at the main winery; this is done in south eastern Washington, in the Columbia Valley. Different groups offer day tours to the Columbia Valley for grape gazing, check with your hotel.

Enjoy the college life in the International District. Located just west of the University of Washington campus, this area offers all varieties of food: Thai, teriyaki, burgers, pizza, Indian, and Tibetan--it’s all very “international.” Other than food, there are drinks, films, and a few eclectic stores for world crafts. If you are looking for beers, many of the bars/restaurants in the area offer their own microbrews; Big Time’s and Fin McCool’s are a few to recommend on the “Ave” (what locals call University Way, ironically not even an avenue). Big Time’s, a pub atmosphere, has excellent pizza and sandwiches, open after lunch. Fin McCool’s is know more for their huge hamburgers. On any given night, you can pop in to enjoy a game of trivia with the rest of the bar. There's Fin McCool’s and the Emigrant (an Irish pub a few blocks north on the Ave with an excellent, cheap happy-hour food selection) to name two. A few more places to drink include Dante’s, Earl’s (makes killer mixed drinks), and the College Inn. A comedy club, Giggles (5220 Roosevelt Way NE) hosts fine, sometimes you’ve even heard of them, entertainers. Park wherever you can find; after 6pm, street parking is free. It’s always lively, no matter the day. Beware of the college students. Like any others, they can get rowdy but are relatively harmless.

If you want to go shopping in downtown Seattle. the streets from 7th to 5th Avenue are filled with top-quality stores, but if you're not in the mood for too much walking, Pacific Place Shopping center offers a wide variety of well-known high-quality stores to assuage your shopping itch, like Tiffany’s, Restoration Hardware, Ann Taylor, Pottery Barn, Barnes and Noble’s, and J. Crew, just to name a few. See www.pacificplaceseattle.com.

On the top floor there are the restaurants and a movie theater. You can have sushi at Todai’s, a Japanese buffet-style eatery (free if it's your birthday, discounted if you're in the military) and microbrews and good American food at Gordon Bierch. Johnny Rocket’s offers those fantastic milkshakes and '50s diner foods. Thai, Mexican, and an upscale deli round out the fourth-floor eateries. Park below in the garage--it’s not that expensive, cheaper if you arrive in the evening, and it’s worth it to avoid the hassle. Remember to bring your parking ticket with you; you pay in the mall and need the stub to exit the garage. Parking is free on the street after 6pm, but if you want to find a spot, pull out your rabbit’s foot and your four-leaf clover. If AMC, the upstairs movie theater, is not offering your preferred movie, just exit the mall and walk around the corner to the Meridian. It has the rest of the current films. Both cinemas are great, although AMC offers a student discount. Movie prices are about $9 for a non-matinee.

Seattle is a wonderful location from which to visit four different national parks (North Cascades, Rainier, Olympic, and Mount St. Helens), and countless state parks all with an endless supply of hiking trails. Within an hour or two, you can be hiking until your hearts content. Do a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, or one of the many other mountains, valleys, rivers and volcanoes. The Pacific Northwest is an outdoors man's paradise. My favorite area to hike was the North Cascades, either in the National Park or one of the many state. Before you go, check out one of the local bookstores for your type of hiking trails.

There are a variety of books highlighting suitability to your needs and desires; kids, pets, elevation gain, and length. If you want to hike in the National Park, check with the visitor’s center, otherwise go with information ahead of time. If you’re not in a park, many of the trail heads require you to pay a fee for parking. You can buy this at one of the local grocery stores near your trail, Northwest Trail Pass, its $5 for a day and well worth avoiding the ticket. A few of my favorite hikes include: Little Giant’s Pass and many along Route 2. Keep in mind the setting sun, start early, and bring water, food, and emergency supplies, hike with a friend. Remember you’re going into the wilderness, beware of plant and animal danger and direction.

Seattle offers a wide variety of festivals all worth checking out. Bumbershoot is an art and music festival held over Labor day weekend at the Seattle Center. Music: each day has a few different headliners, anyone from R.E.M. to Nickle Creek, it depends on the year, but spanning most genres of music. Local music is also highlighted at one of the smaller stages. The Seattle Center is decked out with hundreds of stands for local and national artists selling their wares, and food—Asian, cheesecake on a stick, and many other fair favorites.

The International Beerfest is one of my favorites. Held in a portion of the Seattle Center, it showcases not only local beers, but ones from every corner of the world, this is a GREAT Time. The beer is served in small glasses for tasting, and tickets must be purchased for each glass. The $20 entrance fee gives you a T-shirt and 10 of these tickets. If you are going to be in the area for a while, volunteer. The volunteer slots fill up quickly, but you receive free admission, a T-shirt, and beer tickets. Live music accompanies the high-spirited crowd.

Bite of Seattle is held every year over Memorial Day weekend in the Seattle Center. Admission is free and you get to taste, for a price, all of the goodies you can imagine—all to the sound of live local bands. Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, Polish, Italian, and many more cuisines are offered. Fast for a few days before hand, so you can appreciate this to the fullest.

The Seattle International Film Festival is held about the City from late May to mid-June. A competition for independent films from all over the world, this festival is rich in culture and a great chance to see films you may never otherwise have seen. Try one try all...it's a fantastic way to spend an hour, a day, or a weekend. Parking can be expensive, use the fantastic bus system as much as possible, or the monorail.